(1974)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-BO A.VIBENIUS CAST-CHRISTINA LINDBERG, HENIZ HOPF, SOLVEIG ANDRERSSON, DESPINA TOMAZANI, PER-AXEL AROSENIUS, GUNNEL WADNER and HILDUR LINDBERG. SOURCE-SYNAPSE FILMS DVD NTSC REG 0 (SEPT/OCT 2004) SWEDEN (104 MINS)
After being brutally raped as a child Madeleine (Christina Lindberg) is drastically traumatized enough to render her mute for the rest of her life. Years later, living with her parents on a small farm. One day she is picked up by a strange male by the name of Tony (Heniz Hopf) who takes her to dinner then back to his place. There he drugs her with and forcing her into a life of prostitution. At first she tries to fight her captive, but he overpowers her with continuous doses of heroin, hooking her in. Her first john, she nearly tears his face apart, thus enraging Tony into teaching her a lesson. That lesson being him gauging her one eye out. As her life slips further into Tony’s hands, she begins to collect money on the side to get herself trained in various areas of skills. The art of karate for self-defense, how to shoot and hand various types of guns and how to hand extreme car maneuvers. All of which she plans to take revenge on all those who inflicted pain and suffering upon her. Learning of her parents double suicide, there is little left to live for other then putting her plan into action. One-Eye takes her killing mind and seeks revenge at any cost.
When one thinks of classic rape and revenge films, they tend to mention films like the 1978 film I SPIT ON YOU GRAVE or Abel Ferrara’s MS.45, but rarely did I ever hear about THRILLER. It was only up until a few years ago when the small DVD company Chrome Entertainment and one of the guys behind it, David Zuzelo had mentioned that they had the title and were on the verge of working on it for a releasing here in North America. Well, ever since then, I’ve been hot on the trail on it’s progress and waiting patiently for it’s end results. Well, that has finally come to fruitition, and in no thanks to Don May Jr. and the people over at Synapse pulling the trigger. Once that trigger was pulled the rumors of the battle between both Synapse and THRILLER’S director and producer were heating up, the mud slinging intensified, whatever the case may of been the anticipation to finally see this film had reached an all time high. The disc finally showed up on my doorstep and those years of waiting were about to be put to the test. Once I had finished the disc, my only thought was that the wait was worth every dying second. Synapse has possibly produced one of the best discs to hit my DVD player in a long time, and much of that is in due thanks to super sexy Christina Lindberg.
Director Bo A.Vibenius had a set agenda when going into this project and that is ever so present throughout THRILLER in greatest detail. From the first half set up to the last half of total action, the energy hit you like wildfire. His greatest achievement being the creation of Madeleine, a lovely little lady who is robbed of all her innocents and turned into a vengeful machine. Here’s a character who has absolutely no lines throughout the entire film, but yet her presence is never once hindered, in fact it only strengthens it. The casting of Christina Lindberg was the perfect fitting, her stark beauty is never ripped from her character once. For that becomes her ultimate weapon in her pursuit of revenge. Lindberg may have had all the beauty, but she also was very convincing when it came down to the nitty gritty scenes as well. She totally held her own ground in ever scene, especially during the second half of the film. Her action scenes are a true example of that. Not only was she totally convincing during her action scenes, but even more during her episodes with her money providers, her clients. She was able to keep a cold sadistic feel around her as the clients performed their sexual fetishes with her, giving the viewer all the ammo on just what is going on in her head. Use and abuse, but don’t look back for it will bite back and hard.
Besides the ever so lustful presences of Lindberg, I must compliment Bo on his effective style on how he used it to it’s fullest potential. From the strong sequences that provide us the viewer with a strong story set-up. Surely not the quickest of set-ups, but it’s not about the length here, it’s about the quality provided. He covers just about everything needed to carry the viewer into the action and without getting lost in the process. Surely it’s not hard to get lost, but it’s been known to happen, but not in this case. Using quick references to help build the storyline, yet never giving the feel of being rushed. Always keeping style in check and applying it in the right manner. In the scenes in which there was sexual content involved, Bo uses it with taste and never letting it get cheap. Only touching the outer rims of the realm of pornographic in nature. The action scenes are another great example of how Bo pulls all the punches. Mostly shot in time lapse and choreographed perfectly to display complete realism.
Several scenes are still very fresh in mind after viewing this instant classic. That eye gauging scene was certainly one that would burn a mark on many. Rumored to have used a real corpse in shooting that, I can safely say it certainly looked like it. What was really entertaining was the whole area of the film in which they switch and coincide Madeleine making her money and then spending it on her training. Bo could have done that quickly, but he didn’t and good for him for showing it in a gradual manner, you get the full just of how determined she really is in getting ready for her time of revenge. Of course those are just a touch of how good this film is set up and told. I could sit here and tell you the whole story, but what good would that be without you seeing it first.
This limited edition DVD, which is limited to just 25,000, is a must pick up for any European Cult film fan. Synapse has done a wonderful job in restoring the film and with the disc’s presentation. The film itself is presented in 1.78:1 wide screen and I must add the picture is very clean looking to boot. The audio that houses the film is presented in Dolby Digital Mono and once again is very clean and crisp. The extras involved here are of many. Starting off with several TV spots and trailers to several different stills galleries of behind the scenes and more. Rare photos of an unused fight sequence provides and alternate look to the scene where Madeleine battles it out with the two police officers. Several nude photos of Christina will keep you drooling even after the show is over. All encased in a great front cover artwork. THRILLER’S end result is a true example in just how time and patience really do pay off.
STORY-4 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-3.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-4 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-4 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL-4 BITCH SLAPS To order this DVD or others, visit X-Ploited Cinema!
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